The National YoungArts Foundation provides emerging artists (ages 15-18 or grades 10-12) with opportunities to work with renowned mentors, access to significant scholarships, national recognition, and other opportunities throughout their careers to help ensure that the nation’s most outstanding young artists are encouraged to pursue a career in the arts.

All YoungArts Winners are exposed to professional and educational opportunities, including the chance to work with and learn from renowned artists in their fields, and are eligible to participate in one of YoungArts' annual regional programs in Miami, Los Angeles or New York, space permitting.

YoungArts also offers young artists a strong professional network of more than twenty thousand alumni, as well as ongoing professional guidance and the opportunity to perform and exhibit their work at some of the nation’s leading cultural institutions, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.), the Baryshnikov Arts Center (New York), Sotheby’s (New York), and the New World Center (Miami).

Each year, hundreds of students are selected as national winners and receive grants of up to $10,000 each, as well as the opportunity to attend YoungArts programs, attend master classes and workshops with internationally renowned artists, and participate in interdisciplinary activities, performances, and exhibitions.

There is a $35 non-refundable application fee per category, and fee waivers are available on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States or one of its territories and be between the ages of 15 and 18 (or in grades 10-12). International students who are studying in the U.S. on a student visa also are eligible to apply. YoungArts reserves the right to extend eligibility on a case-by-case basis provided the applicant's birth date is within ninety days of the application date.

See the YoungArts website for complete program guidelines, an FAQ, and application instructions.